::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

  By Mona Austin U.S. Pres. Joe Biden set out to "write the next chapter of partnership" with Kenya in a state visit for Pres. William Ruto, the first such engagement with an African nation in over 20 years.  The goal of the  3-day visit to the U.S.   was to deepen diplomatic relations  of  60 years with the country. "The decisions we make now will determine the course of our future for decades to come," said Biden at the welcoming ceremony.  Biden and Ruto signed many agreements but the one "co-sign" that signified a deeper level in the relationship on the spot was when the U.S. leader said he has recommended Kenya to be a NATO ally. Several funding investment deals from the US were also agreed to and announced Thursday afternoon. Biden announced he is going to ask Congress to make Kenya the first country to receive funds from the SHIPS and Science Act.  But we’re providing $250 million -- the United States is -- to the World Back in a crisi...

BACKGROUND: The office of the First Lady of the United State Dr. Jill Biden has planned a State Dinner gala for the first family of Kenya. This is the sixth state dinner of the Biden Administration and comes a month after the state dinner of Japan.  The significance of inviting Pres. William Ruto of Kenya to be their guest at the White House for a State Dinner aside from bolstering U.S.- Nairobi relations, is that it is the first time an African nation has had the honor in 20 years.  The reasons Kenya was chosen include that they are a democracy, have supported the U.S. in counter-terrorism efforts, to further articulate geo-political positioning and perhaps to  show  Pres. Joe Biden's intention to support Africa as a whole in global growth.   President Biden has yet to visit the Continent of Africa, althoguh WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE KENYA STATE DINNER  On  Wednesday, May 22nd   at 2:30 PM ET , First Lady Jill Biden will host a media preview in ...

As of 3:45 PM Pres. BIden arrived at Camp David ending a jam packed holiday season at the White House to start a brief break from the partisan rancor in Washington.. Yesterday he accompanied Dr. Jill BIden to the National Children's hospital where she read "'Twas tyhe Night Before Christmas'. Pres. Biden sat beside FLOTUS listening along with the children. This event was the last before his break. The first couple will spend The Christmas with family at Camp David, which serves at times as a secure meeting place for the president and hide-away. On Wednesday, December 27, the President and the First Lady will travel to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands for the remainder of the break.

Brtiney Griner was recently transferred from jail  to a Russian penal colony after losing an appeal for her release in October.  Depite their best efforts US negotiators have not been able to convince the Russians to let her go.  The Phoenix Mercury star, 32,  is serving a 9-year sentence on drug smuggling charges and have been detained since Febuary. Her attorneys have visited her i the city iof Mondrovia and sy she is trying to stay strong.    Statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre  “Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long. As the Administration continues to work tirelessly to secure her release, the President has directed the Administration to prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony” “As we have said before, the  U.S. Government made a significant offer to the Russians  to resolve t...

Press Secretary Jen Psaki has tested positive for the Coronavirus again.  Today, in preparation for travel to Europe, I took a PCR test this morning. That test came back positive, which means I will be adhering to CDC guidance and no longer be traveling on the President’s trip to Europe. I had two socially-distanced meetings with the President yesterday, and the President is not considered a close contact as defined by CDC guidance. I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency. The President tested negative today via PCR test. Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms. In alignment with White House COVID-19 protocols, I will work from home and plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of a five-day isolation period and a negative test.

Today the President and I met with the family of Mr. George Floyd. Mr. Floyd should be alive today. He should be with his family who continue to show courage, grace, and resilience.   One year ago, a cellphone video revealed to the country what Black Americans have known to be true for generations. The verdict finding Derek Chauvin guilty of murder provided some measure of justice. But one verdict does not address the persistent issue of police misconduct and use of excessive force. It does not take away the Floyd family’s pain, nor the pain of all those families who have grieved the untimely loss of a loved one.   We need to do more.   After Mr. Floyd was murdered, Senator Cory Booker, Representative Karen Bass, and I introduced the Justice in Policing Act to hold law enforcement accountable and build trust between law enforcement and the communities it serves. Congress must move swiftly and act with a sense of urgency. Passing legislation will not bring back those lives...

  FACT SHEET:   Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing six initial actions to address the gun violence public health epidemic. The recent high-profile mass shootings in Boulder – taking the lives of 10 individuals – and Atlanta – taking the lives of eight individuals, including six Asian American women – underscored the relentlessness of this epidemic. Gun violence takes lives and leaves a lasting legacy of trauma in communities every single day in this country, even when it is not on the nightly news. In fact, cities across the country are in the midst of a historic spike in homicides, violence that disproportionately impacts Black and brown Americans. The President is committed to taking action to reduce all forms of gun violence – community violence, mass shootings, domestic violence, and suicide by firearm.   President Biden is reiterating his call for Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence. Last month, a bipartisan coalition in the House pa...

  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to better serve people in need through partnerships with civil society, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments, it is hereby ordered:       Section   1 .   Policy .  Faith-based and other community-serving organizations are vital to our Nation's ability to address the needs of, and lift up, low-income and other underserved persons and communities, notably including persons of color.  The American people are key drivers of fundamental change in our country, and few institutions are closer to the people than our faith-based and other community organizations.  It is important that the Federal Government strengthen the ability of such organizations and other nonprofit providers in our communities to delive...

(The Slice): The White House will undergo a special deep cleaning before the incoming Biden Administration moves in. The GSA is paying contractors to sanitize the building from top-to-bottom. As the site of numerous COVID-19 cases, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will be thoroughly disinfected to remove potential viral droplets after the Trump Administration ignored social distance guidelines in its daily operations and at several large "super spreader" events. Outgoing Pres. Donald Trump announced in October that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. The spread didn't stop with the First Family, continuing to infect a group of staffers that had been in and out of the building on the campaign trail and their co-workers. Many people deemed Trump's leadership on managing the spread of the disease as highly irresponsible since he reluctantly wore a mask after contracting the disease publicly, but did not wear masks internally or require his staff t...

Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled the  Opening Up America Again  Testing Overview  and  Testing Blueprint   designed to facilitate State development and implementation of the robust testing plans and rapid response programs described in the President’s  Opening Up America Again Guidelines .  The President’s  Blueprint  sets forth the partnership between Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, along with the private-sector and professional associations, all of which will play important roles in meeting the Nation’s testing needs. On April 16, 2020, the President unveiled the  Opening Up America Again Guidelines , a three-phased, data-driven approach based on the advice of public health experts to help State and local officials reopen their economies and get people back to work. 

- - - - - - -  BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION        Human trafficking erodes personal dignity and destroys the moral fabric of society.  It is an affront to humanity that tragically reaches all parts of the world, including communities across our Nation.  Each day, in cities, suburbs, rural areas, and tribal lands, people of every age, gender, race, religion, and nationality are devastated by this grave offense.  During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to eradicate this horrific injustice.      Trafficking crimes are perpetrated by transnational criminal enterprises, gangs, and cruel individuals.  Through force, fraud, coercion, and sexual exploitation of minors, traffickers rob countless individuals of their dignity and freedom, splinter families, and threaten the safety of our communities.  In all its forms, human...

2019 White House Christmas Long before the official White House Christmas tree arrives, a team of staff and volunteers is carefully planing and preparing the "People's House" for the holidays.  The role of the First Lady of the United States is to oversee the White House's biggest production by far for tours and the coming festivities. Thousands of people have taken tours of the majestic decor that is on display throughout December.  During the third year of the Trump Administration, the theme of "Spirit of America" which Mrs. Melania Trump says was inspired by the hard working American she meets when going around the country.    The hard work of the teams that worked to deck the halls of the White House was captured from start to finish.  Photos below documents the team work and the results of it for he 2019 holiday season. First Lady Melania Trump receives the White House Christmas Tree Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, at the North Portico of the White ...